SOUTHERN AFRICA. 3 
phical and ftatiflical account, from whence both the ftatefman 
and the philofopher may be inftru£ted aad amufed. 
This latter part Is a tafk which, in all human probability, I 
fhould never have undertaken, had I not found, on my return 
to England, that a great variety of opinions were fluduating 
with regard to the importance of the Cape of Good Hope to 
the interefts of the Britifh Empire, but more immediately fo to 
thofe of the Eaft-India Company, which compofes fo very dif- 
tinguifhed a part of it. Moft of thefe opinions were, obvioufly, 
grounded on a very limited view of the fubje*^: ; or on an im- 
perfedt knowledge of the country. For, without arrogating to 
myfelf any fuperior information beyond what local knowledge, 
acquired by frequent travel, and my public fituation, enabled me 
to colled:, I may be allowed to obferve, that few feem to under- 
ftand in what refpedts the Cape is, or is not, an important obje£t 
to the different powers of Europe. In the former volume all 
political difcuffions were ftudioufly avoided, not only becaufe 
they might at that time, for many reafons, have been thought 
unfeafonable or indifcreet, but becaufe I then conceived there 
was but one opinion with regard to the real value of the 
Cape of Good Hope, if confidered only in the fmgle view 
of its being a barrier and a point of fecurity to our Indian 
fettlements. 
Since, however, it has unfortunately been found expedient 
to relinquifli the poffeffion of it, in confideration of fomething 
that, no doubt, appeared to be of equal moment, fuch caution 
will now be no longer neceffary ; and I £hall therefore, in the 
B 2 prefeiit 
